Folding box or crate.



- l' 2f I R. HHENSTBIN. FOLDING BOX ORORATB. AIPLIGATION FILED JUNE 2, 1909.

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"Wa .,a..5 Il@ l l 1 l R. HOHENSTEIN.

FOLDING BOX 0E CRATE.

APPLIoAToN FILED JUNE z, 1909.

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R. HOHENSTEIBL FOLDING- BOX 0R CRATE. f APPLICATION FILED JUNI: 2, 1909.

Patented Bec. 7, i905?.

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lld'tllil'lD STATS OFFlltE.

RUDOLPH HOHENSTEIN, OF MEACHAM, OREGON.

FOLDING BOX 0R CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15109.

Application filed June 2, 1909. Serial No. 499,7?.

tion ot the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apperlains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to boxes or crates and more particularly to the class ot t'oldable boxes or crates employed tor the shipment ot eggs and similar articles.

rlhe primary object of the invention is the provision ot a box or crate which may be readily and quickly knocked down when returned to the shipper so as to occupy a comparatively small amount ot space. and be handled at much reduced 'ates.

Another object o'l' the invention is the provision ot a toldable box or crate of this character in which the sides, ends and top may be 'folded inwardly in superimposed relation to each other upon the bottom of the box or crate when knocked down to enable the easy handling thereof by the shipper and that will be compact in form when folded to occupy the smallest possible amount ol space when being transl'iorted t'rom one locality to another.

A further object ot' the invention is the provision ot a box or crate which is simple in construct-ion, durable, readily and easily knocked down or set up when required, and one thatJ is economical and. inexpensive in the manufacture.

lV ith these and other objects in View the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred :torni of ,embodiment of the invention to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and as set forth in the claim hereunto appended.

elevation thereof in folded position. Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. T is a top plan view.

Similar reference characters indicate. corresponding parts throughout the several vviews in the drawings.

ln the drawings the numeral (3 designates generally the box or crate which in the present instance is rectangular in shape comprising a bottom 7, having rising therefrom a slight distance removed from opposite ends vertical end pieces 54, one being ot slightly increased height with respect to the other and to the opposite longitudinal side edges of this bottom 7 are connected vertical side pieces l), one ot' which is ot' slightly increased height with respect to the other.

Connected to the side pieces 9 are hinged side walls l() in the manner asvwill be hercinafter described. Between the mutually adjacenty meeting points of the side and end pieces 8 and i) are disposed substantially l.- shaped metallic stays 11, the same being riveted or otherwise secured to the side pieces 9, and are formed with perforated ears 12. Connected to the side walls` 10, in alinement with the stays ll, are vertically disposed reinforcing stays 13, the lower terminals of which being formed with pertorated ears 1J: which lattel are connected to the ears 12, by pivots l5, and in this mauner the side walls 10, are hinged lo the side pieces so as to permit the said side wall to be lowered or swung into t'olded position.

Connected to the end pieces 8 by means of hinges are end walls 17, the hinges being secured to the inner faces of the said end walls and pieces to permit the inward folding et the end walls when the box or crate is being knocked down. These end walls when the crate is set up lie contiguous to the right angular' projecting tlange portion of the stays carried by the side pieces and walls thus preventing the said end walls trom swinging outwardly ot' the crate or box.

To the upper edges of the end walls 17, are connected sections 18 by means ot hinges 19, which latter permit the outward swinging of the said sections when the box :r crate is in set up position. These top sections 18 torni a cover to the box or crate.

Fixed centrally to the inner faces of the side walls 10 are substantially U-shaped" guide stays 20, the lower terminals of which are formed with perforated ears 21, the

latter hinged by pivots 22 to upper perforated ears 23, of short guide stays 24, secured vto the side pieces 9, in alinernent with the guide stays 20, and engaging these guide stays' is a removable transverse partition 25, which divides the boxer crate into two compartments. The guide stays 2O at their up` per termi'iials are provided with spaced par! allel engaging extensions' 26, containing perfor-ations and being adapted to engage in slots formed nearv oppositeends of cross strips 27, the latter being secured to the 'free meeting edges of the ltop sections 18, forming the box cover when they are closed to permit the locking ofthe cover in thisv position.

Connected to the end walls near their upper edges are hook members 28, which latter are adapted to engage eyes29, mounted on the side walls so as to lock the side and end walls together when the box or crate has been brought to set up position. These hook' members and leyes are preferably mounted at the interior of the'box or crate- In folding the crate the partition 25 is, removed from the guide stays 20, and placed upon the bottom 7, whereupon the end walls are folded inwardly in superimposed position with 'respect to each other onto the partition with the top seetions 18, lying in the 'is so eaaeea plane with the same and then the side walls .are folded inwardly in superimposed rel'ation to each other, and in this `manner the box or crate is folded into a compact knock down position. f /v p -From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the'invention will be clearly apparent so that a more extended explanation is deemed unnecessaryandhas been omitted.

'in the outside face of vone of the side walls 10, is mounted a staple 30 which latter ositioned that when the side walls are"y folde one above the other this staple 30,i will project belowy the 4spaced perforated ex' tensions 26 of the guide stay 20, secured to1 the inner face of the side wall lying above the other folded side wall so that a suitable wire may engage the staple 30 and perfo rated extensions 26 to fasten the box or oratie in folded or knockdown position.

What is claimed is A box of the class described comprising a bottom, side and end pieces mounted securely thereto, end walls hinged to said end pieces and adapted to fold inwardly with respect to the bottom, side walls hinged to the side pieces and adapted to fold inwardly with respect to the bottom, guide stays secured to the side. walls and pieces and hinged to.- gether, a partition removably mounted in the guide stays top sections hinged to thev end walls, perforated extensions on the upper extremities of the guide stays, and cross strips secured to the meeting edges.. of the top sections/and having slottedextreinities to engage the perforated extension to per-.- mit locking of the top sections.

ln testimony whereof, ax my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

RUDGLPH HOHENSTElN. 1Witnesses C. W. NIBLEY, Jr.,

i/V. C. BARNHART. 

